Over the ages, rabbis have interpreted and expanded these mitz- vot. The entire set of laws is called halakha . These laws are codified in intricate detail and cover every aspect of life. Much of modern Jewish life revolves around the synagogue, which plays a multi- faceted role in Jewish life. The Hebrew word means "house of assembly" and the Yiddish word means "school." The aron ha-kodesh houses the Torah scrolls and determines the orientation of the syna- gogue. Synagogues normally face toward Jerusalem; within Jerusalem, they face the Temple Mount. Above the aron ha-kodesh, a flickering ner tamid hangs. The raised platform from which prayers are led is called the bima. Most synagogues in Israel are Orthodox and contain a mehitza, a divider between men's and women's sections. Usually, the two sections have separate entrances. Men should cover their heads when entering a synagogue since head coverings symbolize a reverence for God. Often there is a box of kippot, or head coverings, by the entrance. Worshipers wear other items as reminders of their devotion. The tallit, or prayer shawl, has four tzitzit, sets of strings twisted and knotted to sym- bolize the commandments. On weekdays, worshipers wear tefillin, boxed scrolls wrapped around the arm and head with leather straps. Visitors are welcome at most synagogues during prayer services. There are three prescribed prayer times every day: in the morning , in the afternoon . Smaller synagogues, however, do not meet for every service. On Shabbat and holidays there is an additional service during the day. The Kab- balat Shabbat service, on Friday nights, welcomes in the Sabbath. Visitors to a synagogue should dress modestly, and nicer attire is in order on Shabbat or holi- days. Interesting times to visit are when the Torah scroll is brought out and read on Shabbat, holidays, and every Monday and Thursday morning. It is at these times when you might catch a Bar Mitzvah ceremony , a coming of age ritual signifying the point at which a Jew becomes legally eligible to fulfill the mitzvot. Photographs on Shabbat and holidays are highly inappropriate. JUDAISM IN ISRAEL. Although Judaism is the predominant religion in Israel, by no means is it unified. The diversity of Jewish ideology in Israel governs the codes of everyday interaction among its people. About half of IsraeU Jews are secular; 30% identify themselves as Orthodox and 18% as Ultra-Orthodox. The religious- secular divide forms something of a fault line in Israeli society. The religious establishment is quite powerful; the electoral system has helped Jewish religious parties to wield disproportionate power. Much to the aggravation of many secular Israelis, rabbinical courts have a state monopoly on matrimonial issues among Jews. Service in the Israeli army is not required for Ultra-orthodox Jews, which leads to secular resentment.